Leilane Assunção
Leilane Assunção | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 March 1981 |
| Died | 13 November 2018 (aged 37) |
| Alma mater | Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte |
| Occupations |
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Leilane Assunção (Ceará-Mirim, 14 March 1981[1][2] – Natal, 13 November 2018)[3] was a historian, university professor, feminist, anti-prohibitionist and human rights activist. She is considered the first transgender woman to hold a professorship at a Brazilian university.[4] She held a doctorate in Social Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and advocated for LGBTQ rights, especially transgender rights.[5]
Biography
Leilane Assunção enrolled at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) to study History, where she underwent gender transition at age 24. However, her chosen name was not recognized by the institution until 2011, leading her to file lawsuits against the university itself.[3]
With a degree in History, Leilane completed her master's and doctoral degrees in Social Sciences at UFRN, specializing in research on contemporary Brazil, the arts, and gender issues. In addition, she was a substitute professor at the same institution, where she worked until the end of her contract.[5]
Activism
In addition to her academic career, Leilane was a human rights activist, primarily for LGBTQ rights. She represented Professor Berenice Bento in receiving the National Human Rights Award in 2011, and is considered an important figure in the history of transgender people in Brazil. She was also one of the founders of the anti-prohibitionist debate series and the Marijuana March in Natal, advocating for the decriminalization of drugs.[4][2]
She annually celebrated Natal dos sem Natal (lit. 'Christmas for the Christmasless'), a celebration aimed at LGBTQ people who faced family rejection.[6]
Awards and homages
In 2011, she received the Dr. Berenice Bento Human Rights Award in the Gender Equality category from then-President Dilma Rousseff for defending transgender rights. She has received acknowledgments in master's theses, books, and scientific publications.[7][8][9][10]
In 2023, councilwoman Brisa Bracchi proposed the creation of the Leilane Assunção Commendation, for those who stand out in promoting LGBTQ rights in Natal. In 2024, the Natal City Council approved the creation of the Leilane Assunção Commendation.[11]
In her honor, collectives and organizations bearing her name have been created, such as the Coletivo LGBT+ Leilane Assunção in Natal[12] and the Coletivo Leilane Assunção, linked to the Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences (IFCH) at Unicamp.[13]
Death
Leilane Assunção died at age 37, a victim of an infection caused by a fungus, after 30 days hospitalized at Giselda Trigueiro Hospital, in Natal.[6][14]
References
- ↑ Varela, Victor (14 March 2019). "Que as sementes de Marielle brotem na luta LGBT!" [May Marielle's seeds sprout in the LGBT struggle!]. Saiba Mais (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Morre Leilane Assunção, primeira transgênero a ocupar o cargo de professora universitária" [Leilane Assunção, the first transgender woman to hold the position of university professor, dies]. Portal Catarinas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 November 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 1 2 Lucon, Neto (17 November 2018). "Morre Leilane Assunção, doutora, professora universitária e mulher trans, aos 37 anos" [Leilane Assunção, PhD, university professor and transgender woman, dies at age 37]. Geledés - Black Women's Institute (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 1 2 Duarte, Rafael (14 November 2018). "Quem foi Leilane Assunção, a primeira professora universitária trans do Brasil" [Who was Leilane Assunção, the first transgender university professor in Brazil]. Saiba Mais (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 1 2 Bento, Berenice (28 November 2018). "Leilane Assunção vive" [Leilane Assunção lives]. UnB Notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- 1 2 Hiar, Ricardo (16 November 2018). "Leilane Assunção (1981 - 2018) - Mortes: Professora universitária, transexual lutou pela igualdade" [Leilane Assunção (1981 - 2018) - Deaths: University professor, transgender woman fought for equality]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ Lima, Janaína de (31 March 2022). "Violações de direitos humanos pela mídia: uma análise sobre a transfobia nos portais de notícias online do RN e sua representação social" [Human rights violations by the media: an analysis of transphobia in online news portals in Rio Grande do Norte and its social representation]. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ↑ Bento, Berenice (2021). Brasil, ano zero: estado, gênero, violência [Brazil, year zero: state, gender, violence] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Federal University of Bahia. ISBN 978-65-5630-183-9.
- ↑ da Silva, Michael Guedes (20 July 2020). "Etnografando a batalha do vinho: uma análise da cena dos duelos de MCs face à estrutura social brasileira" [Ethnographically examining the battle of wine: an analysis of the MC battle scene in the context of Brazilian social structure]. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ↑ dos Santos, José Adailton Sousa (30 August 2019). "Existimos porque resistimos: história, lutas e conquistas do Grupo Afirmativo de Mulheres Independentes-Gami" [We exist because we resist: history, struggles and achievements of the Independent Women's Affirmative Group - Gami]. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ↑ "Câmara aprova projeto para garantir socorro a vítimas de engasgo em Natal" [Chamber approves bill to guarantee assistance to choking victims in Natal]. Municipal Chamber of Natal (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ Duarte, Rafael (2 September 2019). "Coletivo LGBT Leilane Assunção avalia ir à Justiça contra o Estado por discriminação no RN" [LGBT collective Leilane Assunção is considering legal action against the state for discrimination in Rio Grande do Norte]. Saiba Mais (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ "Coletivo Leilane Assunção recebe inscrições para atividades on-line" [Leilane Assunção Collective is accepting registrations for online activities]. Unicamp (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ "Morre a professora e historiadora Leilane Assunção" [Professor and historian Leilane Assunção dies]. Tribuna do Norte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 November 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2026.